The car in which Jasmine Bastion died is lifted from the crash scene. Photo / Bradley Ambrose
A young sailor was killed in a car crash near the Devonport naval base at the weekend despite a Navy campaign against drink-driving.
Jasmine Annie Bastion was sitting in the back seat of the Mazda RX7 when it slammed into a concrete wall on Queens Parade early on
Saturday.
The 23-year-old, an able chef, died in hospital later that day.
Three young men were cut out of the wreck with minor injuries.
Police say the people in the vehicle had been drinking at a local bar.
It is not known if the 19-year-old driver had also been drinking. Police are awaiting the results of tests on a blood alcohol sample.
The Devonport base has its own bar and Lieutenant Commander Barbara Cassin said the Navy had many action plans in place to convince personnel about the dangers of drink-driving.
"We cover the whole spectrum and are very pro-active in making sure our people are educated. We are talking about host responsibility and bar responsibility."
Commander Cassin said it had been a "harrowing" weekend.
"Everybody's devastated. Not only has her own family lost a member but we of the naval family have as well."
The Navy has a breath-testing checkpoint at the Devonport base gate and every driver is tested.
It is understood the car involved in the crash was stopped at the checkpoint earlier in the evening and the person who was driving at that time was found to be sober.
The group went to a nearby bar. Soon after, Ms Bastion and three friends are believed to have taken the Mazda. The driver tested earlier was not believed to be with the group.
* One person died when a car crashed into a bank near Mahoenui, 50km southwest of Te Kuiti, yesterday.
Westpac Waikato air ambulance pilot Simon Lewis said five people were in the car when it crashed.
The other occupants were injured. Two were flown to Waikato Hospital.
